System and Method for Creating a Networked Infrastructure Distribution Platform of Small Wind Energy Gathering Devices

ABSTRACT

A roadway system for energy generation and distribution is presented. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the roadway system comprises a plurality of ground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads, and a roadway system electricity grid. The roadway system may additionally include, for example, a plurality of ground-based solar energy generating devices, one or more vehicle-based solar energy generating devices and one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devices. The energy generating devices are connected to the roadway system electricity grid and substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.11/645,109, filed Dec. 22, 2006.

The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that wind power turbines can generate power that can bedelivered via interconnection to existing grid systems or can be used topower individual homes, businesses and utilities. Most if not all windpower systems that are used to gather large amounts, in the Mega Wattrange of power are large structure wind turbines many of which are atleast 100 feet high. In the past, small wind powered turbines have alsobeen placed high up from the ground usually at least 15 feet high. Also,most small wind power turbine systems are utilized to power a singlehome, business or elements of that home or business.

Currently, large wind installations in order of 100 foot or more sizedturbines dot the landscape of the planet. These turbines are oftenpositioned in remote fields out to sea or on private property away frompublic infrastructure. Small wind installations of turbines and othergathering devices in the 5 to 30 foot range are typically utilized inthree deployments. The first deployment features clusters of small tomid sized turbines set up in remote windy areas such as the desertenvironment near Palm Desert in California. The second deploymentfeatures isolated powering of small homes and businesses such as thosein remote artic or extreme cold climates where heating and coolinginfrastructure does not exist, or is augmented at the micro use levelfor one home or business by small wind turbine implementation. The thirddeployment model features isolated powering of entities for governmentutilities such as isolated powering of single light stands at theHanauma Bay National Park public parking lot in Oahu Hi.

Conventional models address power plant and isolated use models for thegeneration and distribution of wind power. Large turbines generateMegawatt volumes of power to be utilized locally or interconnected backto the grid system. Small wind generation systems are typically used tosolve local power issues, such as street lights or home or businesspower needs as well as having the ability to be interconnected to a gridsystem for the purpose of selling the power generated by the windgathering system to a public or private utility.

Unfortunately, the existing conventional uses have certain limitationsin distribution and deployment. Large turbines have faced environmentaland Defense Department concerns. Environmentalists fear that the noiseand size of turbines will disrupt both scenic and habitat conditions inaddition to threatening the well being of birds that may be caught inthe large turbine blades. Department of Defense concerns have beenraised over the large turbines interfering with radar signals andtracking. Large turbine systems that are placed far away from existinginfrastructure also incur a large expense in the transportation orbuilding of infrastructure to carry the power generated by the turbinesystem. Finally, the large turbine system represents a large investmentfor a single turbine that is a volatile investment in that if the windis not present or wind currents change then the turbine would be viewedas a poor investment because it will not generate enough power. Also, ifthe turbine breaks for any reason it is going to produce zero power asit is a large and single entity. Large turbines also require laborintensive maintenance and monitoring. The life cycle for large windturbines is 20 years and decommissioning and waste generated bymanufacture, installation and decommissioning is another environmentalissue to contend with. Small wind power utilized in isolated areas andfor private homes, businesses and individual is a great way to introduceclean energy on a unit by unit grass roots level. The issue withisolated uses which the instant invention addresses is that isolateduses are isolated by definition. Isolated uses do not carry out theability to directly power businesses or residential sites over a longstretch of land covering tens, hundreds, thousands or hundreds ofthousands of miles providing easy access to direct powering of entitiesas well as multiple grid interconnection points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution to the problems of the priorart by providing an integrated small wind turbine power infrastructureincluding small wind energy generating device that can then be easilyconnected to multiple direct sources or various grid interconnectionpoints. Components of these very small wind turbines, such as the tinywiring from turbines forming a tiny wiring grid, with wire turbines onthe micrometer scale together, have been shown to have superconductiveproperties which may help increase the energy gathering efficiency oftiny wind turbines, Further, wind energy generating devices on the nano-and micrometer scale up to about an inch may be made with advancedlithography and laser tools and wind energy generating device an eightof an inch long and up can be made via standard molding and formingprocess. Also, the use of tiny wind turbines allows for deployment ofbillions of turbines in spaces where larger turbines could not be fit,such as curved guardrails, on top of vehicles and mounted vertically orhorizontally in positions that would not be functional for largerturbines. The functions of the tiny turbines would be wide ranging, fromgenerating heat with their energy by affixing them to winter jackets andgloves to rolling out large strips of installable sheets of tinyturbines poor use of public and private highways via median and outsideof breakdown lane installations of small wind generating devices offersnumerous advantages. First, private highways and municipalities haveexisting maintenance crew as well as existing relationships withcontracted infrastructure building providers who can be trained toinstall the wind generation systems along specified parts of roadways.Second, the wind power generation systems can be small and noiseless,small enough to fit millions or billions of tiny turbines on a medianbetween opposite sides of a divided highway with existing median. Third,the energy generated by the devices may be distributed directly to homesor businesses along the highway route, such as powering homes or cleanpower for the electrolysis of hydrogen for filling stations along ahighway, either utilizing hydrogen conversion at individual fillingstations or at a conveniently located hydrogen conversion plant adjacentto the highway or roadway. Fourth, other clean energy sources such assolar geothermal and other heat conversion technologies may be used tocreate a multi-source clean energy ‘power grid’ along with or in tandemwith the ‘grid’ in place via potential for the connection of miles ofwind power gathering, storage and transfer of generated power. Fifth,these infrastructures benefit the wind power generator companies; theroadway owners via lease or easement revenue, any product that couldbenefit from an easily installed ‘skin’ or sheet of the tiny turbineenergy gathering material, as well as provide a stable and consistentinfrastructure project generating a service provider economy for cleanenergy production as well as the environment. Sixth, roadways are aconsistent source of wind and by having small wind energy capturegenerating devices close to the ground the wind energy capture devices,such as small noiseless spiral or helix-style turbines, enable thedevices to capture wind energy generated by passing vehicles as well asexisting currents. Seventh, the power generated by this system may alsobe connected to a grid system at many different and convenient pointslocated very close to the existing grid infrastructure.

One embodiment of the present invention is a roadway system for energygeneration and distribution. This roadway system includes a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads, and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 25 feet in height and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energygeneration from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energygeneration from atmospheric wind.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for generatingand distributing energy. This method includes the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein at least about 90%of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or lessthan about 25 feet in height and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected toa roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of a road ornear to one or more roads.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a wind energygenerating device comprising one or more piezoelectric nanowires and asheet with circuitry, wherein the nanowires are attached, independently,with one end to the sheet. positioned on the sheet in a substantiallyperpendicular position in the absence of wind, flexible to allowmechanical bending to a bent position in response to wind acting onthem, and electrically connected to the circuitry to allow transfer ofelectrical energy generated by the one or more nanowires upon returningfrom the bent position to the substantially perpendicular position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates the implementation of the small, fixed wind turbinearrays along the roadway.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of 5 foot high turbines.

FIG. 3 illustrates the contiguous deployment of one foot long and tinyone micron to multiple micron height wind turbines.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of wind turbines that may be covered in solargathering materials such as thin films that may be molded to parts ofthe turbine.

FIG. 5 illustrates the helix-designed wind turbines implemented in astratum layered design along the median and breakdown lanes of aroadway.

FIG. 6 illustrates the helix wind turbine power generation installed onroadways in a single uniform height.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart for how the wind energy generation bythe helix designed turbines flows through the system.

FIG. 8 illustrates solar panels positioned as contiguous strips of solarbacked films deployed along the sides and the median of a roadway.

FIG. 9 illustrates solar film molded at the installation site tospecific areas of installation to provide a cohesive and continuous orsemi-continuous implementation.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of spray on solar power cells, hereinreferred to as solar voltaic paint which may be sprayed onto theroadway.

FIG. 11 illustrates solar panels deployed on the roadside lanes in acontinuous manner complemented by formed solar films.

FIG. 12 illustrates solar panels which may also be solar films, deployedon the sides of the roadway.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart that defines the steps from gatheringto distribution of the solar energy roadway system.

FIG. 14/15 illustrates the integration of both wind and solar energygathering systems in tandem implementation along a roadway system.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart where both wind and solar energygathering devices are implemented together.

FIG. 17 illustrates the implementation and installation of portablesmall helix turbine wind energy gathering sheets being installed on avehicle.

FIG. 18 illustrates the portable helix wind turbine vehicle installationsheets or placards being affixed to a vehicle.

FIG. 19 illustrates helix wind turbine installation sheet are not justmeant to be mounted on top of the vehicle but also in available forinstallation in areas under the vehicle.

FIG. 20 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles deployed with the helixwind gathering installation sheets or placards including a compositeview of an installation sheet.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow chart for the vehicle wind energy gatheringsystem.

FIG. 22 illustrates the installation of a portable solar energygathering system at a qualified service area.

FIG. 23 illustrates that no cash transaction occurs at the time ofinstallation at the power depot service station area.

FIG. 24 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles with solar installationsheets traveling down the roadway.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart where the solar installation sheets andbattery configuration are installed in the vehicle.

FIG. 26 illustrates portable solar and wind installation sheets beingused in tandem separately and as unified, single sheets gathering bothwind and solar energy simultaneously.

FIG. 27 illustrates an overhead view of a vehicle installed with thesolar and wind integrated panels.

FIG. 28 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles deployed with solar andwind installation sheets moving in and out of service center areas forthe installation, registration, updating and maintenance of saidsystems.

FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart that combines the flow of energygenerated by both wind and solar installation sheets.

FIG. 30 illustrates a full integration of the fixed & portable roadwayintegrated wind and solar energy gathering roadway system.

FIG. 31 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 32 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 33 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 34 illustrates the flow chart of the full integration of the windand solar energy gathering roadway system.

FIG. 35 is a schematic representation of a nanowire wind energygenerating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a roadway system that can provide thebasis for a national or global clean or renewable energy infrastructure.

A “road” (hereinafter also “roadway”) as used herein, is an identifiableroute or path between two or more places on which vehicles can drive. Aroad is typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easytravel by the vehicles. Also, typically, a road may include one or morelanes, one or more breakdown lanes, one or more medians or centerdividers, and one or more guardrails. For example, a road may behighway, turnpike, pike, toll road, state highway, freeway, clearway,expressway, parkway, causeway, throughway, interstate, speedway,autobahn, superhighway, street, railroad, train track, car race tackairplane runway and the like.

A “vehicle” as used herein, is any device that is used at least partlyfor ground-based transportation, for example, of goods and/or humans.For example, a vehicle may be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, atractor, a tank, a motorcycle, a train, an airplane or the like.

Preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, atank, and a motorcycle. More preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile,a car, a bus, and a truck. Most preferably, a vehicle can be anautomobile and a car.

“Wind” as used herein refers to both, wind created by the movement ofvehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) and atmospheric wind.

A “wind energy generating device” as used herein, is a device thatconverts wind energy into electrical energy. Wind energy generatingdevices may include one or more “wind turbine generators.” A “windturbine generator” (hereinafter also “wind turbine”) as referred toherein, is a device that includes a turbine and a generator, wherein theturbine gathers or captures wind by conversion of some of the windenergy into rotational energy of the turbine, and the generatorgenerates electrical energy from the rotational energy of the turbine.These wind turbine generators can employ a turbine rotating around anaxis oriented in any direction. For example, in a “horizontal axisturbine,” the turbine rotates around a horizontal axis, which isoriented, typically, more or less parallel to the ground. Furthermore,in a “vertical axis turbine,” the turbine rotates around a verticalaxis, which is oriented, typically, more or less perpendicular to theground. For example, a vertical axis turbine can be a Darricus windturbine, a Giromill-type Darrieus wind turbine, a Savonius wind turbine,a “helix-style turbine” and the like. In a “helix style turbines” theturbine blades are helically shaped and rotate around a vertical axis. Ahelix-style turbine can have a single-helix design or multi-helixdesign, for example, double-helix, triple-helix or quad-helix design.Wind energy generating devices can have geometrical dimensions fromabout several nanometers to about several hundred feet. Wind energygenerating devices on the nano- to micrometer scale may include one ormore nano- and/or microwires of one or more materials that show a strongpiezoelectric effect, for example, zinc oxide, that substitute for theabove discussed turbine and generator. These nano- and mircowires cangather wind energy and generate electricity, thus, substituting thefunction of the above discussed turbines and generators. It is believed,that each wire mechanically deforms, for example, bends in response towind, thereby converting some of the wind energy into electrical energyvia a piezoelectric effect.

The “height” of a wind energy generating device or wind turbinegenerator as used herein, is the height measured perpendicularly fromthe ground adjacent to the device or generator to the highest point ofthe device or generator. “Ground” as used herein is the surface to whichthe wind energy generating device is attached, for example, literallyearth's ground, a road surface, a road sign, the surface of a road noisebarrier, a tunnel surface, the surface of a wind energy generatingsheet, the surface of a car and the like. Wind energy generating devicescan have a height between about a few micrometers and several hundredfeet. Wind energy generating devices of very small geometricaldimensions and wind energy generating sheets employing wind energygenerating devices of very small geometrical dimensions, for example onthe nanometer and micrometer scale, may be manufactured usingmicrofabrication methods. Microfabricatioin methods forthree-dimensional structure creation are well known in the art andinclude, for example, photolithography such as two-photon 3Dlithography, etching such as RIE (Reactive-ion etching) or DRIE (Deepreactive-ion etching), thin film deposition, such as sputtering, CVD(Chemical Vapor Deposition), evaporation, epitaxy, thermal oxidation,doping using, for example, thermal diffusion or ion implantation,wafer-scale integration techniques, wafer bonding, CMvP(Chemical-Mechanical Planarization), wafer cleaning, nano- andmicrometer scale wiring fabrication, and the like. Materials suitablefor microfabrication methods include, for example, silicon (e.g., singlecrystal silicon), silicon carbide and silicon/silicon carbide hybridstructures. Materials for nano- and micrometer scale wiring fabricationinclude, for example, gold, silicon, copper, silver and zinc oxide.

“Piezoelectric nanowires” as used herein are crystalline wires thatexhibit a piezoelectric effect upon mechanical deformation or pressure,for example, bending and release of same mechanical deformation orpressure. An example of a suitable material is zinc oxide. These wirescan be manufactured using methods known in the art. Typically, thesenanowires have length that is about 5 to 20 times the width, depth orradius of the nanowires. Also, typically, nanowires may have lengths ofbetween about 100 nanometer and a few micrometers and widths, depths orradii of between about 5 nanometer and about 200 nanometers.

Parts of or entire wind energy generating devices with dimensions ofabout ⅛^(th) of an inch and up can be manufactured, for example, usingmolding technology known in the art. All of the wind energy generatingdevices, but, in particular, the ones of dimensions of about ⅛^(th) ofan inch and up may replicate the well known designs of larger, that is,5 feet to several hundred feet wind energy generating devices, forexample, helical wind turbines. These designs of larger wind energygenerating devices typically include elements such as chargingcontrollers, automatic lubrication systems, artificial loads and thelike to optimize performance of the wind energy generating device.

Wind energy generating sheets (hereinafter also “wind turbineinstallation sheets” or “wind turbine installation placards”) are windenergy generating devices that employ a plurality, for example, up tomillions of nano- and/or micrometer scale wind energy generating deviceson a sheet with a density of, typically, about 1500 to about a millionwind energy generating devices per square meter of sheet. Sheets may berigid or flexible and may provide the housing and infrastructure forwiring of the wind energy generating devices and for connective wiringto other wind energy generating sheets, to an inverter or batterysystem. Wind energy generating sheets may also employ one or moresmaller wind energy generating sheets.

Nano- and/or micrometer scale wind energy generating devices on windenergy generating sheets can be manufactured directly on a given sheetand/or the wind energy generating devices can be, independently,manufactured and than attached to a given sheet. Wiring that may be usedto electrically interconnect the wind energy generating devices and/orthe wind energy generating devices with electric circuitry on a givensheet includes, for example, nano- and micrometer scale wiring as knownin the art, for example, gold, silicon, copper and silver nano- andmicrometer scale wires.

Wind energy generation devices can be spatially positioned in anypattern or distribution that conforms with safety and other regulations.Generally the distribution can be optimized in view of the given roadand road environment. For example, they can be positioned in a linearequidistant distribution, a linear non-equidistant distribution and astratum configuration. Wind energy generating devices can optionallyinclude solar energy generating devices as described below.

A “stratum configuration” as used herein, is a distribution of windenergy generation devices, in which wind energy generation devices thatare further away from the nearest lane of a road, are higher. Forexample, a stratum configuration of wind energy generation devicesresults from positioning the smallest wind energy generation devicesnearest to a road and successively larger wind energy generation devicessuccessively further from the road.

Typically, the average distance between any two closest ground-basedwind energy generating devices is in the range between about 5micrometer and about 200 meters.

Wind energy generating devices can be “vehicle-based,” that is, they areaffixed to any part of the surface of a vehicle that allows normal andsafe operation of the vehicle. Vehicle-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted to the car, for example,during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they canbe removable affixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap onclips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system,Thule-type locking and the like. A vehicle and a vehicle-based windenergy generating device can also include directional spoilers or wingsthat are positioned to thereby decrease air resistance of a movingvehicle and increase wind energy generation. A vehicle and avehicle-based wind energy generating device can also include a devicefor measuring the direction of the atmospheric wind at or near thepositions of one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devicesand movable directional spoilers or wings that are moved based on themeasured wind direction information to thereby decrease air resistanceof a moving vehicle and increase wind energy generation. Vehicle-basedwind energy generating devices can generate energy while a vehicle isparked or moving. Typically, vehicle-based wind energy generatingdevices have a height of between about a few micrometers and about a fewfeet.

Any wind energy generating device that is not affixed to a vehicle ishereinafter referred to as “ground-based.” Typically, a ground-basedwind energy generating device can be positioned on part of a road onwhich its presence does not hinder the flow of traffic or pose a safetyrisk, near to a road, and on any road object on or near to a road.Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights,guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiplesof feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixedsuch that they are easily removed using, for example, one or acombination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screwmounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures,Thule-type locking and the like.

The phrase “near” a road as used herein, refers to the distance of agiven ground-based wind energy generating device from a given road thatallows the ground-based wind energy generating device to capture windfrom passing vehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) to generateenergy. This distance can be determined in view of the height of theturbine and the average velocity of an average vehicle passing the windenergy generating device. Typically, this distance can be up to about 40feet. For example, for a helical axis turbine of 10 feet height,positioned along a road on which vehicle travel with an average velocityof 55 miles per hour, the distance can be up to about 20 feet and forone of 5 feet height, the distance can be up to about 25 feet.

A “wind turbine array” as used herein is a plurality of wind energygenerating devices.

An “roadway system electricity grid” as used herein, refers to anynetwork of electrical connections that allows electrical energy to betransported or transmitted. Typically, a roadway system electricity gridcan include energy storage systems, systems for inverting energy, singlepower source changing units, electricity meters and backup powersystems.

A “utility grid” (hereinafter also “grid”) as used herein, refers to theexisting electrical lines and power boxes, such as Edison and NStarsystems.

A “direct power load” is any system, that is directly electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid, that is, withoutelectrical energy being transmitted via a utility grid, and has a demandfor electrical energy, for examples, any business or home.

An “energy storage system” as used herein is any device that can storeelectrical energy. Typically, these systems transform the electricalenergy that is to be stored in some other form of energy, for example,chemical and thermal. For example, an energy storage system can be asystem that stores hydrogen, which for example, is obtained via hydrogenconversion electrolysis. It can also be any rechargeable battery.“Ground-based energy storage systems” can be positioned below or abovethe ground. “Vehicle-based energy storage systems” can be permanentlyaffixed or mounted in or on the car, for example, during the vehiclemanufacturing process, or they can be removable affixed using, forexample, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magneticbonding, a locking screw mounting system, Thule-type locking and thelike.

The phrase “connected to the roadway system electricity grid” as usedherein. refers to any direct or indirect electrical connection of asolar or wind energy generating device to the roadway system electricitygrid that allows energy to be transferred from. the energy generatingdevice to the grid.

A “solar energy generating device” as used herein, is any device thatconverts solar energy into electricity. For example, a solar energygenerating device can be a single solar or photovoltaic cell, aplurality of interconnected solar cells, that is, a “photovoltaicmodule”, or a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, that is, a“photovoltaic array” or “solar panel.” A “solar or photovoltaic cell”(hereinafter also “photovoltaic material”) as used herein, is a deviceor a bank of devices that use the photovoltaic effect to generateelectricity directly from sunlight. For example, a solar or photovoltaiccell can be a silicon wafer solar cell, a thin-film solar cell employingmaterials such as amorphous silicon, poly-crystalline silicon,micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indiumselenide/sulfide, photoelectrochemical cells, nanocrystal solar cellsand polymer or plastic solar cells. Plastic solar cells are known in theart to be paintable, sprayable or printable roll-to-roll likenewspapers.

A “solar energy generating device” can be ground-based or vehicle based.A vehicle-based solar energy generating device can be permanentlyaffixed or mounted to the car, for example, during the vehiclemanufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they can be removableaffixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips,adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, Thule-typelocking and the like.

“Filtering means” as used herein, refers to devices which removecontaminants, often solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, andbacteria from air, and in particular, wind, that is, moving air.Filtering means of the present invention, preferably, removecontaminants from wind without substantial air or wind resistance.Devices for removing contaminants from air may include, for example,polyester and/or glass fiber web or grid formations, Both materials arewidely used in commercial, industrial and residential applications.Polyester and glass Fibres can be blended with cotton or other fibres toproduce a wide range of performance characteristics. Polypropylene or asimilar material, which has a lower temperature tolerance, may be usedto enhance chemical resistance. Also, tiny synthetic fibres knows asmicrofibres, and loosely-spun fiberglass may be used to create a grid orweb formation.

A ground-based solar energy generating device can be attached to anysurface that allows collection of solar energy and where itsinstallation does not pose a safety risk or is not permitted byregulations. For example, it can be positioned on part of a road onwhich its presence does not holder the flow of traffic or pose a safetyrisk, near to a road, and on any road object on- or near to a road.Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights,guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiplesof feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixedsuch that they are easily removed using, for example, one or acombination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screwmounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures,Thule-type locking and the like.

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system for energygeneration and distribution, comprises a plurality of ground-based windenergy generating devices, one or more roads and a roadway systemelectricity grid, wherein each of substantially all of the ground-basedwind energy generating devices is electrically connected to the roadwaysystem electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads ornear to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind. Typically, at least about 10%, more typically, atleast about 50%, and even more typically, at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 25 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein each of substantially all ofthe ground-based wind energy generating devices is electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on partof one of the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 40 feetfrom one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind. Typically, at least about 10%, more typically, atleast about 50%, and even more typically, at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 25 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein each of substantially all ofthe ground-based wind energy generating devices is electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on partof one of the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 25 feetfrom one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind. Typically, at least about 10%, more typically, atleast about 50%, and even more typically, at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 10 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein each of substantially all ofthe ground-based wind energy generating devices is electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on partof one of the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 10 feetfrom one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind. Typically, at least about 10%, more typically, atleast about 50%, and even more typically, at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout one inch in length in any direction.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 1 inch long in any direction and part of one or more ground-basedwind energy generating sheets, and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energygeneration from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energygeneration from atmospheric wind. Typically, the wind energy generatingsheets are positioned within between about 0 feet and about 10 feet fromone or more of the roads. more typically they are positioned withinbetween about 0 feet and about 5 feet from one or more of the roads, andmost typically they are positioned on one of the roads, for example, inthe median.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 1 inch long in any direction part of one or more ground-based windenergy generating sheets, and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energygeneration from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energygeneration from atmospheric wind. Typically, the wind energy generatingsheets comprise between about 10 and about 1 billion ground-based windenergy generating devices per square meter of sheet area, moretypically, they comprise between about 100 and about 10 millionground-based wind energy generating devices per square meter of sheetarea, even more typically, they comprise between about 1000 and about 10million ground-based wind energy generating devices per square meter ofsheet area.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises one or more ground-basedwind energy generating devices, one or more roads and a roadway systemelectricity grid, wherein the ground-based wind energy generatingdevices are of nanometer to micrometer scale size and each ofsubstantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices iselectrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid andpositioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of theroads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passingvehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.

In another specific embodiment of the invention. the roadway system forenergy generation and distribution, comprises a plurality ofground-based wind energy generating devices, one or more roads and aroadway system electricity grid, wherein at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or less thanabout 25 feet in height and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energygeneration from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energygeneration from atmospheric wind. Typically, the ground-based windenergy generating devices are positioned along the roads with an averagedensity of at least about 10 devices per mile of road, more typically,the devices are positioned along the roads with an average density of atleast about 100 devices per mile of road, even more typically, thedevices are positioned along the roads with an average density of atleast about 1000 devices per mile of road, most typically, the devicesare positioned along the roads with an average density of at least about10000 devices per mile of road.

In other embodiments, the roadway systems comprise the same elements asthe roadway systems described in any one of the preceding eightparagraphs, wherein each of at least about 90% of the ground-based windenergy generating devices, independently, comprises a vertical axisturbine. Preferably, the vertical axis turbine is a helix-style turbine.

In other embodiments, the roadway systems comprise the elements of theroadway systems described in any one of the preceding nine paragraphs,and further comprise, optionally, one or more backup power systems,means for storing electricity, means for metering electricity, or meansfor inverting electricity.

Further embodiments of the present invention are directed to a methodfor generating and distributing energy in a roadway system.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the method for generating anddistributing energy, comprises the step of generating energy from windcreated from passing vehicles using a plurality of ground-based windenergy generation devices, wherein each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected toa roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of a road ornear to one or more roads. Typically, at least about 10%, moretypically, at least about 50%, and even more typically, at least about90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to orless than about 25 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating) and distributing energy in a roadway system, comprises thestep of generating energy from wind created from passing vehicles usinga plurality of ground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein eachof substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesis electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid andpositioned on part of one of the roads or within between about 0 feetand about 40 feet from one or more of the roads. Typically, at leastabout 10%, more typically, at least about 50%, and even more typically,at least about 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesare equal to or less than about 25 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein each ofsubstantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices iselectrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid andpositioned on part of one of the roads or within between about 0 feetand about 25 feet from one or more of the roads. Typically, at leastabout 10%, more typically, at least about 50%, and even more typically,at least about 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesare equal to or less than about 25 feet in height.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein each ofsubstantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices iselectrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid andpositioned on part of one of the roads or within between about 0 feetand about 10 feet from one or more of the roads. Typically, at leastabout 10%, more typically, at least about 50%, and even more typically,at least about 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesare equal to or less than about one inch in length in any direction.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices., wherein at least about 90%of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or lessthan about 1 inch long in any direction and part of one or moreground-based wind energy generating sheets, and each of substantiallyall of the ground-based wind energy generating devices is electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on partof one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads. Typically, thewind energy generating sheets are positioned within between about 0 feetand about 10 feet from one or more of the roads, more typically they arepositioned within between about 0 feet and about 5 feet from one or moreof the roads, and most typically they are positioned on one of theroads, for example, in the median.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein at least about 90%of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or lessthan about 1 inch long in any direction and part of one or moreground-based wind energy generating sheets, and each of substantiallyall of the ground-based wind energy generating devices is electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on partof one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads. Typically, thewind energy generating sheets comprise between about 10 and about 1billion ground-based wind energy generating devices per square meter ofsheet area, more typically, they comprise between about 100 and about 10million ground-based wind energy generating devices per square meter ofsheet area, even more typically, they comprise between about 1000 andabout 0 million ground-based wind energy generating devices per squaremeter of sheet area.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using one or moreground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein the ground-basedwind energy generating devices are of nanometer to micrometer scale sizeand each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generatingdevices is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity gridand positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of theroads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passingvehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the method forgenerating and distributing energy, comprises the step of generatingenergy from wind created from passing vehicles using a plurality ofground-based wind energy generation devices, wherein at least about 90%of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or lessthan about 25 feet in height and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads. Typically, the ground-basedwind energy generating devices are positioned along the roads with anaverage density of at least about 10 devices per mile of road, moretypically, the devices are positioned along the roads with an averagedensity of at least about 100 devices per mile of road, even moretypically, the devices are positioned along the roads with an averagedensity of at least about 1000 devices per mile of road, most typically,the devices are positioned along the roads with an average density of atleast about 10000 devices per mile of road.

In other embodiments, the methods for generating and distributing energyin a roadway system, comprise the same steps as the methods described inany one of the preceding eight paragraphs, wherein each of at leastabout 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devices,independently, comprises a vertical axis turbine. Preferably, thevertical axis turbine is a helix-style turbine.

In other embodiments, the methods for generating and distributing energyin a roadway system, comprise the steps as the methods described in anyone of the preceding nine paragraphs, and further comprise, the step ofstoring energy generated by the plurality of ground-based wind energygenerating devices in one or more ground-based energy storage systems,the step of inverting energy stored in one or more ground-based energystorage systems, the step of distributing energy stored in the one ormore ground-based energy storage systems to one or more servicestations, and refilling one or more substantially empty vehicle-basedenergy storage systems at one or more service stations, the step ofexchanging one or more substantially empty vehicle-based energy storagesystems of a vehicle with vehicle-based energy storage systems that havebeen refilled at a given service station, and/or the step ofdistributing energy contained in one or more vehicle-based energystorage systems and/or energy contained in one or more ground-basedenergy storage systems to any or a combination of one or more utilitygrids, one or more vehicle-based energy storage systems, one or moreground-based energy storage systems, one or more direct power loads, ora hydrogen facility.

Wind energy generating devices of nano- to micrometer dimensions andwind energy generating sheets comprising one or more wind energygenerating devices of nano- to micrometer dimensions, can be employed ina roadway system, for example, as described above, but can also beemployed in any application that benefits from a power source that ishighly portable and/or independent from utility grids. For example,these devices can be used as power source for remote cooling devicessuch as beach coolers (with the turbines sheet-mounted on top of thecoolers), isolated home cooling systems (with the turbines sheet-mountedon top of, and/or adjacent to, the house), vehicle cooling systems andthe like. These devices can also be used as power source for heating inthermos, portable stoves, swimming pool heaters, water heaters, winterjackets and gloves and the like by adhering sheeted material onto thesestructures. Additionally, they can be used to power small electronicdevices such as cell phones and PDA's, In each case the wind energygenerating device may comprise an energy storage system, for example, arechargable battery system to store energy gathered from the wind andthereby allow operation of the devices in the absence of wind.

A description of further example embodiments of the invention follows.

In one embodiment, the axial flux permanent magnet system created byHolmes, Hong & Pullen (“Axial-Flux Permanent Magnet Machines forMicropower Generation” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, Vol.14, No. 1, February 2005, the entire teachings of which are herebyincorporated by reference) is utilized as a means to mount the tiny windturbines upon, where the wind turbine acts as the ‘energy harvester’ andthe three piece sectioned, coin shaped magnet turbines to generatemechanical energy that is passed on through the generator. Similar tosolar cell makeup the turbine can lie viewed as a 3-piece cross sectionwith an upper stator made up of magnetic materials with a certaincharge, the middle level can be silicon and the bottom level can be madeof magnetic materials bearing the opposite charge of the top level. Theturning of the turbine excites the opposite charged electrons andcreates an electrical charge which can be passed on from the turbinethrough tiny coiled wires. The instant embodiment suggests a 7.5 mmsized axial flux permanent magnet system size. However, by utilizing themicromachining techniques in the first preferred embodiment the size ofthe tiny turbine system with the axial flow magnetic system could bescaled down to approximately 200 nm, from the tallest or widest point.

One embodiment of the present provides lines of wind turbines and solarpower arrays running along and in the median of major roadways andhighways combined with the gathering and distribution of power resultingfrom vehicle installations of wind and solar energy gathering devicesinstalled permanently or temporarily, for free or for pay, with orwithout deposit, in use with existing highway systems like FastLane orrun as a completely independent program for affixing solar and windpower gathering devices on vehicles to create a widespread portablesolar energy gathering networks of vehicles. Vehicles can be affixedwith ‘vehicle arrays’ on or adjacent to major roadways and highwayspotentially creating a solar power gathering network infrastructure ofhundreds of thousands of miles long, augmented by millions of vehiclesinstalled with solar arrays designed for vehicles for the purpose ofgathering solar power enabling vehicle owners to take advantage of thesolar network energy gathering and distribution system to be easilyequipped and compensated and for their participation via power gatheredby their vehicle system, most of both sets, vehicle and line, of solararrays will be convenient to the grid and to powering individual homes,public infrastructure and businesses. The present invention also carrieswith it the potential to move solar power into the double digit overallenergy market share in the United States. Additionally, there is a needfor an integrated small wind power infrastructure that is easilyconnected to multiple direct sources or various grid interconnectionpoints. The use of public and private highways via median and outside ofbreakdown lane installations of small wind generating devices offersnumerous advantages. First, private highways and municipalities haveexisting maintenance crew as well as existing relationships withcontracted infrastructure building providers who can be trained toinstall the wind generation systems along specified parts of roadways.Second, the wind power generation systems can be small and noiseless,small enough to fit on a median between opposite sides of a dividedhighway with existing median. Third, using a highway or other roadwayallows for the installation of many wind generating devices per milewith over 500 wind generating devices possible per mile. Fourth, theenergy generated by the devices may be distributed directly to homes orbusinesses along the highway route, such as powering homes or cleanpower for the electrolysis of hydrogen for filling stations along ahighway, either utilizing hydrogen conversion at individual fillingstations or at a conveniently located hydrogen conversion plant adjacentto the highway or roadway. Fifth, other clean energy sources such assolar, geothermal and other heat conversion technologies may be used tocreate a multi-source clean energy ‘power grid’ along with or in tandemwith the ‘grid’ in place via potential for the connection of miles ofwind power gathering, storage and transfer of generated power. Sixth,these infrastructures benefit the wind power generator companies; theroadway owners via lease or easement revenue, provide a stable andconsistent infrastructure project generating a service provider economyfor clean energy production as well as the environment. Seventh,roadways are a consistent source of wind and by having small wind energycapture generating devices close to the ground the wind energy capturedevices, such as small noiseless spiral or helix-style turbines, enablethe devices to capture wind energy generated by passing vehicles as wellas existing currents. Eighth, the power generated by this system mayalso be connected to a grid system at many different and convenientpoints located very close to the existing grid infrastucture. This fixedsystem can be utilized in tandem and complimentary ways to deployinstallations, maintenance , billing and depositing of gathered powerwith the present vehicle system, and solar systems allowing forportable, semi-permanent or permanent wind small wind turbines to beaffixed to vehicles at or near the point of entry to major roadways andhighways. Vehicle owners may pay little or no charge to have the windturbine device or devices installed on their vehicles. Deposits fromvehicle owners securing the safe return of the wind turbine energygenerating system device may be secured through participating vehicleowner's financial institutions or via cash deposit. Participatingvehicle owners, turbine installers, roadway owners or municipalities incontrol of the roadways and the owners of the turbines that areinstalled may all receive a share of the revenue from energy generated,stored and transferred into the grid or via direct distribution by thesystem after energy is generated by the individual vehicles and thatelectricity is off-loaded at designated, easily accessible, vehicle windsystem network electricity collection stations or substations. Thismodel creates a situation where drivers of vehicles do not have to spendsignificant time or financial resources to begin generating wind energywith their vehicles. This model creates a friendly format for wide-scaledistribution of wind energy generating devices for thousands of miles ofinstallations on roadways and millions of installations deployed onvehicles to take advantage of. By combining solar and wind power systemswithin this infrastructure and distribution plan the creation of acomplimentary clean energy distribution network is achieved because bothwind and solar power systems gather energy under different conditions.By having two gathering systems, if one method is not efficient at aparticular time, then the other method may still have conditions thatare effective for it to gather energy at that time. Thus the deploymentof both sources of energy gathering systems, wind and solar, along thismassive infrastructure of roadways enhances the ability to provide amore constant and stable clean power infrastructure.

One embodiment of the invention is a roadway system for energygeneration and distributions comprising: a plurality of ground-basedwind energy generating devices; one or more roads; and a roadway systemelectricity grid; wherein each of substantially all of the ground-basedwind energy generating devices is electrically connected to the roadwaysystem electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads ornear to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind.

Typically, each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices can be positioned on part of one of the roads orwithin between about 0 feet and about 100 feet, within between about 0feet and about 80 feet, or within between about 0 feet and about 60 feetfrom one or more of the roads. More typically, they can be on part ofone of the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 40 feet fromone or more of the roads, Preferably, they can be on part of one of theroads or within between about 0 feet and about 25 feet from one or moreof the roads. More preferably, they can be on part of one of the roadsor within between about 0 feet and about 10 feet from one or more of theroads

The present invention relates to a contiguous or semi contiguous line ofinterconnected solar panels or thin films combined with a network ofwind turbines running for thousands of total miles along public orprivate roadways. Deployments of energy gathering systems will be bothfixed stationary systems as well as mobile systems mounted on vehiclestraveling the roadways & highways. By running the solar power gatheringnetwork on or adjacent to highways or trafficked roadways the solarpower gathering network will have easy access to both gridinterconnection and local powering of public and private entities. Newadvances in solar energy gathering techniques allow for this kind ofpower gathering line system to be deployed in a more flexible, multiformand cost efficient manner for power generation resulting in thedevelopment of a solar energy distributed power network withmulti-gigawatt potential which may power entities directly or viainterconnection with existing -grid power systems. This roadway solar“line array” deployed in the median, on the side or breakdown lane or aslane dividers creates a system that produces DC current that is thenpassed through inverter, which converts to AC current and voltage. Poweris also fed to the system by a network of vehicles deployed andinstalled with portable or permanent solar power gathering devicesseamlessly mounted to their vehicles and containing linked battery packsthat can be stored either in the trunk, inside the vehicle or attachedto the exterior of the vehicle, small noiseless to low noise windturbines to utilizing large stretches of continuous available public andprivate roadways via easements, leases or the purchase specified rightsto create thousands of miles of continuous and semi-contiguous networksof interconnected wind turbine power generation . The wind turbines maybe mounted in the median, breakdown lanes or just off of the highway ormajor roadway. This deployment may run with a complimentary set ofinstallations that uses small noiseless to low noise wind turbines togenerate wind power by affixing those wind power generating devices tomotor vehicles. Large fleets of motor vehicles driving along availablepublic and private roadways may each be affixed with wind powergathering devices and the energy derived from these devices may be usedto power elements of the vehicle directly, or may be used to gaincredits for fuel, goods or sold for currency. Rest areas and servicestations along with all retail outlets can make these vehicle windgenerating systems available for easy purchase and installation for themotor vehicle owner. Power depots where energy is deposited from fixedand vehicle deployments, installation areas and billing systems can becombined to service both fixed and vehicle deployment installations togain efficiency and save on infrastructure cost

The power generated by the solar and wind energy gathering systems canbe used to both connect to a grid or to power homes businesses orsystems without connecting to existing grid systems. Power generated andstored in the portable battery system can be transferred into thenetwork power system at Power Depots which can be designed and installedat the same or different points of interconnection and directdistribution as the line array panel outputs. Power is logged by theelectricity meters and is either consumed immediately by home orbusiness loads, or is sent out to the general utility grid network. Theutility meter spins backwards, or two meters are used to record incomingand outgoing power. The inverter shuts down automatically in case ofutility power failure for safety, and reconnects automatically whenutility power resumes, Solar power arrays and fixed wind turbines can besituated on a median, breakdown lane or nearby running contiguous withmajor roadways and offer numerous conveniences such as easy access tothe grid, easy maintenance access and direct powering opportunities tohomes and businesses with a potential installation footprint of hundredsof thousands of miles of available roadways.

The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment relates to thecreation of a massive solar power generating infrastructure system wheresolar power generating devices are networked together along public andprivate roads creating the largest contiguous and semi-contiguous solarpower generating and distributing system ever built. This specificembodiment envisions nearly continuous solar panel and or thin film and“solar paint” mounted and deployed in the median, breakdown lane andlane dividers and connected or networked together either through abattery pack system or then to one kind of inverter for gridinterconnection or another kind of inverter for direct distribution topower users. Using an inverter applies power conditioning to the solargenerated power to enable the connection of the solar generated power tothe grid system or locally distributed power users depending on thespecific type of inverter. There may also be instances where continuoussolar ‘strip arrays’ may be connected to a single power source changingunit, or simply tied together in a parallel line connection before beingconnected to the inverter. Whatever network inverter is used may alsoneed to have an electric meter installed between the power generated bythe system to the grid or customer and the inverter. Unlike most solargathering arrays the implementations of the arrays in this system willbe mounted close to the ground, some on the ground, lane dividers orguardrails and rise no more than ten to fifteen feet high to fit intothe environmental constraints of highway and roadway deployments andenabling easy access for maintenance crew. These solar ‘strip arrays’may be connected together in parallel along with a battery back up orbackup power system in the event that the grid system fails. Theparallel ‘strip array’ systems power deployments and distribution pointswill be based upon local usage locations and access to grid points.

The ‘strip array’ system may be automated containing switches to feedthe grid from the local, strip array, that is networked together viabattery system or wired in parallel to pass the electricity to the nextclosest strip array parallel line or battery storage facility or tolocal power distribution users based upon need. The effect of hundredsor thousands of miles of this implementation is to form a sub grid ofsolar, and possibly other, clean power energy sources, where eachdistribution or interconnection point may be measured with a standardelectricity power meter at or near the electricity's point of entry intothe grid or direct distribution customer system to gauge accurateelectricity usage for billing purposes. In a preferred embodiment solarstrip arrays are deployed on a highway system in the median on theground level, or on top of the median barriers, or on top of other cleanpower gathering devices in the median such as wind turbines. Solarvoltaic paint systems would gather energy from painted lane dividers andsolar film would be mounted upon guardrails. These mixed systems wouldalso be used as is most efficient on or around breakdown lanes and on oraround toll booth installations. The strip arrays would be networkedtogether and then joined by running a power line in parallel or batterystorage and then through an inverted to condition the electricityproperly for use in a grid system or via direct distribution. Powerlines may be connected directly to sources or buried or flown toappropriate distribution points based upon the physical characteristicsof specific implementations as well as private, local, state and federalregulations and specifications. The vehicle solar energy gatheringsystem is made to run in tandem and be complimentary with the ‘linearray’ system. With the potential deployment of millions of vehicleswhose owners have elected to participate in, and be compensated by, thevehicle solar energy gathering network system creating one of thelargest semi-contiguous solar power generating network installation anddistributing systems ever built. This specific embodiment envisionsmillions of solar paneled, thin film and “solar paint” mounted anddeployed vehicles installed with these solar energy gathering devicesfor little or no charge to the vehicle owner. The cost of acquisition ofthe equipment is borne by the network owners, who work in conjunction,or can be the same party as, various parties who have economic orstrategic initiatives to participate in the network including thevehicle installation entity for the network system, the roadway orhighway municipality owners and the power distribution and billingdepots. The installation systems, billing systems and payment systemsdescribed for solar and wind energy herein can be combined into a singleunified network. A specific embodiment to incorporate the wind energygathering infrastructure systems relates to the creation of a massivewind power generating infrastructure system where small, nearlynoiseless wind power generating devices are networked together alongpublic and private roads creating the largest contiguous andsemi-contiguous wind power generating and distributing system everbuilt. This specific embodiment envisions five hundred wind turbines permile mounted in the median and connected or networked together eitherthrough a battery pack system or then to one kind of inverter for gridinterconnection or another kind of inverter for direct distribution topower users. Using an inverter applies power conditioning to the windgenerated power to enable the connection of the wind generated power tothe grid system or locally distributed power users depending on thespecific type of inverter. There may also be instances where multipleturbines may be connected to a single power source changing unit beforebeing connected to the inverter. Whatever network inverter is used mayalso need to have a electric meter installed between the power generatedby the system to the grid or customer and the inverter. Unlike most windgathering turbines the turbines in this system will be mounted close tothe ground and rise no more than ten feet high to catch wind generatedby passing cars and enabling easy access for maintenance crew. Pods ofwind turbines will be connected together along with a battery back up orbackup power system in the event that the grid system fails. The podsystems will be based upon local usage locations and access to gridpoints. The pod system may be automated containing switches to feed thegrid in the local pod, pass the electricity to the next closest pod orto local power distribution users based upon need. The effect ofhundreds or thousands of miles of this implementation is to form a subgrid of wind, and possibly other, clean power energy sources, eachdistribution or interconnection point may be measured with a standardelectricity power meter at or near the electricity's point of entry intothe grid or direct distribution customer system to gauge accurateelectricity usage for billing purposes. In a preferred embodiment smallhelix or double helix designed wind turbines are positioned in themedian or breakdown lane to take advantage of the wind generated byvehicles as they pass. This kind of wind is known as “dirty” or unevenwind in the wind turbine business, but the helix or double helix stylewind turbines are suited to take advantage of this condition to generatepower, even when the wind is in cross directions from the wind currentsof traffic headed in opposite directions. This condition will cause thehelix-style turbine to speed up, while it may hinder the ability of awindmill style turbine to generate energy efficiently. This embodimentalso runs in tandem to a complimentary deployment that relates to thecreation of a massive wind power generating infrastructure system wheresmall, nearly noiseless wind power generating devices are affixed tovehicles who secure the acquisition of the devices through a speciallane, similar to the FastLane designee on a toll road, or local accesspoint to a busy roadway. The portable wind power turbine system packconsists of a small wind turbine and battery charging system. Theturbine may be metered to provide charge to an existing car battery orelectric car battery or it may be gathered to a separate unit battery,which when a light indicates the battery is full, is then available fordrop off for deposit of power into the system electricity depot for acredit against toll costs or for cash credit. The portable wind turbinedevices may be installed on the hood, top, sides, rear bumper area orundercarriage of a vehicle using magnets or bracing system that takes asquickly as under 1 minute to install . . . the battery pack may bestored next to the device or in the trunk of the vehicle.

The wind turbines may be propeller, helix, double helix or triple helixstyle wind turbines. At a wind turbine network distribution ormaintenance center the individual vehicle wind system batteries aredrained of their gathered power by connection to an inverter and thenthe vehicle owner or user is credited for the energy that has beengathered, via a credit to that users electronic account, which can bemerged with existing FastLane accounts or separately monitored andmaintained. Transactions may also be handled on a cash or credit cardbasis. The electricity processed by the inverter is then distributedback into the grid using one kind of inverter or distributed directly byanother kind of inverter. Both distribution methods are measured withmeters to effectuate accurate billing. Billing revenue is then shared bythe remaining stakeholders i.e. the company owning the devices, theroadway and the installation and power Maintenance Company. There may bemore sub-contractors that are compensated in this process. There nayalso be fewer compensated parties in the event that one party controlsmultiple pieces of the system process or in the event that a roadway orpublic highway is not compensated.

The two systems, wind energy and solar energy gathering systems, canshare some or all Power Depot points, maintenance stations and billingsystems. Specific energy distribution depots may be designed into thesystem to store, channel and recondition energy for use in the gridsystem or to power direct distribution to entities seeking power fromthe network.

The concept of using roadways as distribution points, fixed solar andwind installations along roadway systems and portable solar and windenergy gathering devices on vehicles and for vehicle owners who do nothave to pay to enlist the wind energy gathering devices on theirvehicles, where infrastructure to run solar and wind energy gatheringand distribution systems via both the fixed installations and vehicleenergy gathering systems are easily accessible via roadway distributionpoints are completely new innovations to the clean energy arena.

FIG. 1 illustrates part of a roadway system implementation that containsfixed wind turbine arrays along a roadway. These ten foot double helixtype wind turbine generators (Item 1) are positioned in alinear-equidistant distribution, any consecutive pair of wind turbinegenerators about fifteen feet apart (Item 2) along a continuous row atthe edge of breakdown lanes (Item 3), or within medians or centerdividers of a roadway (Item 5). The wind turbine generators are eithermounted into the ground multiples of feet deep and sometimes set into afoundation, or secured via magnets, braces and ties to metal structures(Item 4). Helix type wind turbine generators are not dependent on singledirection wind, which is good because wind created from passing vehiclescomes in uneven and multiple directions or even cross directions (Item6) at the median point of the roadway and helix type wind turbinegenerators, in particular, of the double-helix type are suited to workwell in these conditions. Double helix wind turbine generators are alsorelatively noiseless in operation which allows using these turbines veryclose to humans. These double helix type wind turbine generators arelinked together in an energy gathering chain with one or more turbinesfeeding a single or array of batteries appropriate to the powergeneration of the individual and groupings of turbines. There can bemany, for examples, thousands of battery arrays along a single roadwayimplementation (Item 7).

The electrical energy of a ground-based energy storage system storingenergy generated, for example, from one or more wind energy generatingdevices, for example, a battery or battery array, can be fed to aninverter and then passed through a power meter as the power generated,for example, by the wind turbine generators is either delivered into autility grid system, directly distributed to a home or business, orstored for later use, for example, at peak energy demand times, byeither larger battery arrays, or via the use of the wind energy toconvert to hydrogen and then conversion of the hydrogen back to energyusing a hydrogen fuel cell technology for vehicles or grid power usage(See FIG. 5).

FIG. 2 illustrates part of a roadway system implementation that containsfixed wind turbine arrays along a roadway. Here, the use of five footdouble helix type wind turbine generators (Item 11) is shown, Typically,these five foot double helix type wind turbine generators can generateless energy than the ten foot double helix type wind turbine generators,but because they are smaller, they only need to be 5 to 7 feet apart orless. Accordingly, they can be used at higher density along roadways.Because the ten foot variety is higher up , the five foot variety may beinstalled within the ten foot variety installation and both turbines maywork along the same roadway virtually side by side creating a layeredeffect. Generally, this layered distribution in which different sizedturbines function at their own height can be used with wind turbinegenerators having heights from about 25 feet down to about a fewmicrometers. The established concept of using battery arrays, invertersand meters and distributing the power to the grid, direct distributionor reserve storage remains in force for all sizes of turbines. Theturbines may be deployed in a total contiguous manner (Item 31) or in asemi contiguous manner based upon roadway wind conditions, roadwaydesign constraints, access to utility grid, access to power storage andaccess to direct distribution sources (See FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 illustrates the contiguous deployment of one foot double helixtype wind turbine generators (Item 12), one inch double helix type windturbine generators (Item 13) and one micrometer to multiple micrometerhigh double helix type wind turbine generators (Item 21). Smaller windturbine generators allow a larger number of wind turbine generators tobe deployed within a given area than large wind turbine generators. Footlong turbines (Item I) may be deployed only 1.5 or less feet apartdepending on the terrain and angles of deployment relative to eachturbine in the contiguous or semi-contiguous installation, while micronlength turbines can be deployed in the millions over a square foot (Item41).

FIG. 4 illustrates a helix type wind turbine generator (Item 14) thatmay be covered in solar gathering photovoltaic materials such as siliconthin films that may be molded to parts of the wind turbine generatorthat do not interfere with the wind turbine generator's fundamentaloperation, for example, the parts indicated by Item 22. The solar energythat is gathered is then fed to a central rod (Item 32) and carried downthe base of the wind turbine generator (Item 38) where it can then bechanneled via wiring typical to the industry into a ground-based energystorage system, for example, a battery pack or battery array deployment.

FIG. 5 illustrates helix type wind turbine generators implemented instratum layered design along the median (Item 15) and breakdown lanes ofa roadway (Item 23). Power generated from the wind turbine generators ispassed to battery arrays (Item 33), then inverters (Item 34) andregistered through meters (Item 35) before being distributed (Item 8) tothe utility grid (Item 81), direct power of homes or businesses (Item82), powering of vehicles (Item 83) or stored in auxiliary batteryarrays or to a hydrogen facility (Item 84) that can use the power toform hydrogen using an electrolysis process, store the hydrogen, andrelease the energy stored in the hydrogen, that is, convert the hydrogento produce power. The hydrogen facility could produce power from thestored hydrogen, for example, in times of an emergency or at peak demandtimes.

FIG. 6 illustrates helix type wind turbine generators (Item 14)implemented as a single uniform height turbine system delivering powerinto battery arrays (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34) and registeredin power meters (Item 35) then distributing the power (Item 8) to theutility grid (Item 81), direct distribution (Item 83), auxiliary powerstorage (Item 84) or vehicle usage (Item 82).

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the flow of electrical energy or powergenerated by wind energy generating devices, for example, wind turbinegenerators (herein also “wind turbines”) (Item 16) through a roadwaysystem. The wind turbines generate energy (Item 16) which is passed viaconnected wiring to one or more ground-based energy storage systems, forexample, battery arrays (Item 33). The energy is then passed from thebattery in DC form to one ore more inverter (Item 34) which change theelectricity to AC form and conditions the electricity to thespecifications needed by the distribution point, where it is run througha meter (Item 35) then distributed to the utility grid (Item 81), one ormore vehicles (Item 82), a direct distribution point such as a home orbusiness (Item 83), fueling of an electric or hydrogen electrolysismachine or further storage via hydrogen conversion electrolysis orauxiliary battery array storage (Item 84).

FIG. 8 illustrates solar panels, which may also be contiguous strips ofsolar backed films (Item 100) deployed along the sides (Item 3) and themedian of a roadway (Item 5). Solar films may be easier to implementbecause they can be cut to fit and they can be printed out in miles ofconsecutive film during the manufacturing process. Some new films arealso not using silicon and are using nanotechnology to create new kindsof solar films such as those developed by Nanosolar (nansolar.com). Theability to manufacture miles of film or to cut smaller pieces in avariety of lengths and widths are preferable in view of road breaks,replacements, maintenance and physical and governmental buildingrestrictions that are factors in individual roadway implementations.Panels or backed films may be mounted to median guardrails (Item 51) orroadside guardrails (Item 52) or may be erected upon rails or beamsupporting devices that have been secured into the ground via depth orpiling techniques (Item 53). Displays of the panels or films may includecustom formation around objects, pyramid configurations (Item 54),facing flat towards the sky (Item 55), mirrored sides (Item 56), orelectronic tilts (Item 57) built to maximize the solar gatheringmaterials access to direct contact with the suns rays.

FIG. 9 illustrates how solar film can be molded at the installation siteto specific areas of installation to provide a cohesive (Items 101, 102and 103) and continuous (Item 101) or semi-continuous implementation ofsolar gathering material (Item 104) along a roadway on existingstructures of uniform and non-uniform shapes such as guardrails on theside and median of roadways.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of spray on solar power cells hereinreferred to as solar voltaic paint which may be sprayed onto the roadwayitself as lane markers (Item 105) or onto guardrails (Items 51 and 52)to collect both solar energy and infrared heat using a spray on solarpower cell material that utilizes nanotechnology to mix quantum dotswith a polymer to create an energy gathering material that may be fivetimes more efficient than current solar cell technology. The sprayed onmaterials would have conductive infrastructure underneath it similar tosolar films and panels with efficiently planned depot points for theenergy gathered by the sprayed on materials to be transferred to batteryarrays and inverters and then to energy distribution points such as theutility grid, direct distribution or auxiliary storage (See FIG. 5).

FIG. 11 illustrates solar panels (Item 100) deployed on the roadsidelanes in a continuous manner complemented by formed solar films withbacking formed over guardrails (Item 106) and spray on solar material.Various solar technologies may be used in concert to implement acomprehensive and contiguous or semi-contiguous implementation of solarenergy gathering materials along a roadway system. The solar panels,which may also be solar films, deployed on the sides of the roadway andthe median along with solar sprayed on power cells, “solar paint”,sprayed as roadway markers (Item 105). These roadway markers may also bedeployed in wider use on the roadway, particularly in breakdown lanes,to maximize coverage and power gathering potential.

FIG. 12 illustrates solar panels, which may also be solar films,deployed on the sides of the roadway (Item 100) and the median alongwith solar sprayed on power cells “solar paint”, sprayed as roadwaymarkers (Item 105). These roadway markers may also be deployed in wideruse on the roadway, particularly in breakdown lanes, to maximizecoverage and power gathering potential. The gathered power istransferred via wired connection to battery (Item 33),then to inverters(Item 34) and then to meters (Item 35) which register the amount ofenergy that is distributed (Item 8) to the utility grid (Item 81), tohomes or businesses (Item 83), to vehicles (Item 82) or to and auxiliaryenergy storage or hydrogen facility (Item 84).

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart that defines the steps from gatheringto distribution of the solar energy in a roadway system. One or moresolar gathering devices such as solar panels, solar films with backingand solar spray on power cells are installed along a roadway in acontiguous or semi-contiguous configuration (Item 100). The solar energygenerating devices are networked through a roadway system electricitygrid via wiring and input and output connections (Item 9) to efficientlytake advantage of batteries and battery arrays as are standard in thesolar energy gathering industry (Item 33). The energy stored in thebatteries is then passed through an inverter or inverters (Item 34) tocondition the energy transmission to a distribution point. As the energyis passed to a distribution point the electricity provided to that pointis gauged via the use of an electricity meter (Item 35). Distributionpoints that may be delivered to include the utility grid (Item 81), avehicle (Item 82), direct distribution to a business or home (Item 83),hydrogen electrolysis and storage facility or a battery storage facility(Item 84).

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the integration of both wind and solar energygathering systems in tandem implementation along a roadway system. Thesystem includes installations of both wind and solar systems side bysides next to and even within energy gathering devices. Wind energygenerating devices are implemented in stratum layered design along themedian and breakdown lanes of a roadway (Item 150). Power generated fromthe devices is passed to battery arrays (Item 33), then inverters (Item34) and registered through meters (Item 35) before being distributed(Item 8) to the grid, direct power of homes or businesses, powering ofautomobiles or stored in auxiliary battery arrays or stored byconverting to hydrogen using an electrolysis process and held until thepower is needed at such times that would include emergencies orstrategically held to be sold to the grid system or direct distributionuses at peak demand times. Wind energy generating devices may also becovered with solar energy generating devices, that is, they may becovered with solar gathering materials such as thin films or spray onsolar power cells (“solar paint”) that may be molded to parts of thedevice that do not interfere with the turbines fundamental operation(Item 107). Thin film solar panels may also be combined with small, forexample, micrometer sized wind energy generating devices (Item 108). Thesolar energy that is gathered can either by used to power the windenergy generating device, for example, helix-type wind turbine generatordirectly when wind power is not available, or make the turbine of thehelix-type wind turbine generator spin faster when wind is available, orthe gathered solar power is fed to the central rod and carried down thebase of the turbine where it is channeled via wiring typical to theindustry into a battery pack or battery array deployment (Item 33), thento an inverter (Item 34), meter (Item 35) and then distributed asdiscussed above The wind system is part of a complimentary installationwhere designed areas are allotted for both wind and solar power systemsimplementation along roadways. The solar system alongside the windsystem is comprised of one or more solar gathering devices such as solarpanels, solar films with backing and solar spray on power cells areinstalled along a roadway in a contiguous or semi-contiguousconfiguration. The solar energy generating devices are then networkedvia wiring and input and output connections to efficiently takeadvantage of batteries and battery arrays as are standard in the solarenergy gathering industry (Item 33).

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart where both wind (Item 16) and solarenergy generating devices (Item 100) as described in FIGS. 14 and 15transfer their energy to batteries (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34)then registering the amount of energy via the meters (Item 35) beforebeing distributed to the utility grid (Item 81), vehicles (Item 82),direct distribution of homes and businesses (Item 83) or utilized asstored energy via large battery arrays or via conversion to hydrogen tobe held in compressed tanks via the creation of hydrogen viaelectrolysis (Item 84).

FIG. 17 illustrates the implementation and installation of portablesmall helix turbine wind energy gathering sheets (Item 109) beinginstalled on a vehicle, for example, an automobile (Item 1000) at anauthorized service station and power depot (Item 1001), which may belocated at a toll booth, rest area, exit or other location. Once thevehicle and owner are registered into the system the solar gatheringunit(s) may be self-installed by the vehicle operator or installed by atrained service center attendant (Item 1002). The helix turbine sheetunit (Item 109) can be installed on the top, bottom or sides of thevehicle. Power derived from the turbines is stored in the vehicle in oneor more vehicle-based energy storage systems, for example, a battery orbattery packs (FIG. 18, Item 111) which are delivered to servicestations (Item 1001) when full for system credit for the energy gatheredissued automated or by a cashier (Item 1003). The energy gathered mayalso be used to directly power elements of the vehicle and the ownerwould reap a discount for the metered power used or consumed by thevehicle in this situation similar ill value to the credit that would beawarded for power gathered by the one or more vehicle-based energystorage systems, for example, a battery or battery pack (FIG. 18, Item111). System credits can be reimbursed in the form of toil fee credits,cash payments, or credits at participating businesses including powercompanies and consumer goods companies.

FIG. 18 illustrates the portable helix wind turbine vehicle installationsheets or placards (Item 109) that are affixed to the vehicle via snapon clips (Item 110), adhesive, magnetic bonding, bonded by a staticcharge between the vehicle surface and the installation sheet (Item109), via a locking screw mounting system, permanently or removablemounted during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlay bracing. Theone or more vehicle-based storage systems, for example, a battery tostore the power or battery array may be on the interior, exterior (Item111), trunk or underbelly, or under the hood of the vehicle. The vehiclehelix wind turbines (Item 409) may individually be as small as a micronor up to two feet in length. One turbine or millions of turbines mayoccupy a single vehicle installation sheet or placard (Item 109).

FIG. 19 illustrates that the helix wind turbine installation sheet arenot just meant to be mounted on top of the vehicle but also in availablefor installation in areas under the vehicle (Item 109). The lack ofuniform wind and the presence of dirty wind makes the use of the helixturbine advantageous and efficient for collecting wind energy fromdifferent parts of the moving vehicle. In addition to securing theturbines the installation sheet (Item 109) forms a matrixes grid ofwiring (Item 112) that is comprised of wiring taken from the generatorof each individual turbine. The matrixes wiring from each turbine isthen delivered to the battery for charging in one integrated wiredoutput connection (Item 113).

FIG. 20 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles deployed with the helixwind gathering installation sheets or placards (Item 109), with acomposite view of an installation sheet, in operation, traveling long aroadway generating wind power stored in one or more vehicle-based energystorage systems, for example, a battery or battery packs (Item 111) andpassing through toll booth service areas (Item 1001) where installationsheets (Item 109) may be installed, removed or where fully chargedbatteries can be switched out for new batteries or reinstalled.Maintenance and account information may also be obtained at the serviceareas.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow chart for the vehicle wind energy gatheringsystem. The flow begins with the installation (Item 1090) of themanufactured wind helix turbine installation sheets or placards (Item109) along with the battery or battery array system (Item 111). Thecompleted installation of the vehicle wind energy gathering system isregistered with the vehicle and owner at a service area (Item 1091) anddeployed (Item 1092) onto the roadway system to gather energy using theinstalled one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devices andvehicle-based energy storage systems (e.g., battery or battery arrays)(Item 1093). The wind gathering system fills the battery or batteryarrays with energy stored as electricity by the battery or batter array.The battery packs may then be turned in or exchanged at a service center(Item 1094) where the power gathered by the vehicle wind energygathering system identified with a vehicle and/or owner is registeredand credited to the vehicle and/or owner. The power gathered in thebatteries is then prepared for distribution into the system (Item 8) inthe form of distribution into the utility grid (Item 81), necessitatinga transfer of the battery power through an inverter. The battery powermay be utilized directly by a vehicle (Item 82). The battery power maybe attached to an inverter for direct powering of businesses or homes(Item 83) or the power may be stored in auxiliary battery arrays or usedto convert hydrogen via electrolysis for energy storage or for powerhydrogen energy needs (Item 84). By charging the vehicle owner nothing,very little and possibly securing a deposit against the value of theequipment the vehicle owner gains incentive to create value for himselfby participating in the gathering of clean energy with no financialinvestment needed during the service area registration process.

FIG. 22 illustrates the installation of a portable solar energygathering system (Item 114) at a qualified service area (Item 1001)installed on a vehicle (Item 1000) by a service center trained installer(Item 1002). The solar installation sheets (Item 114) may be affixed tothe vehicle via snap on clips, adhesive, magnetic bonding, bonded by astatic charge between the vehicle surface and the installation sheet, bya locking screw mounting system, permanently or removable installationof a mounting during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlaybracing. The battery to store the power or battery array may be on theinterior, exterior, trunk or underbelly, or under the hood of thevehicle. The solar installation sheets may be mounted on the top, hood,trunk or sides of a vehicle.

FIG. 23 illustrates that no cash transaction occurs at the time ofinstallation at the power depot service station area (Item 1000), withthe exception of a credit card or other security registration/depositsystem (Item 1004). By charging the vehicle owner (Item 1005) nothing,very little and possibly securing a deposit against the value of theequipment the vehicle owner (Item 1005) gains incentive to create valuefor himself by participating in the gathering of clean energy with nofinancial investment needed.

FIG. 24 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles with solar installationsheets (Item 114) traveling down a road along with the integration of aservice area (Item 1001) in a familiar toll plaza along the roadwayroute. Similar to the wind installation system, the solar installationsheets may be coupled to a battery outside or inside the vehicle. (Item111).

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart where one or more solar installationsheets and battery configuration are installed in a vehicle (Item 1095).The vehicle is deployed, registered within the system with theinstallation sheets installed (Item 1092) and activated to capture andstore energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is then gathered in thebatteries and stored as electricity (Item 1094) for power distribution(Item 8). The batteries then feed the instant vehicle with power that ismetered or the batteries are exchanged at a service center (1094) andthe power gathered in the batteries is used feed power into the grid(Item 81) after being sent through an inverter which brings the powerinto the proper technical condition for the grid according tospecifications provided by the grid operator, or to power anothervehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to havethe energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries or via amanufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra power to fuel theelectrolysis of water to create hydrogen (Item 84).

FIG. 26 illustrates portable solar and wind installation sheets beinginstalled (1096) in tandem separately and as unified, single sheetsgathering both wind and solar energy simultaneously. The installation,acquisition and customer service station centers (Item 1001) functionidentically as in the previous Figures. The surfaces of the turbinesheets including the turbines themselves may be sprayed with spray onpower cells to maximize the potential of simultaneous solar and windenergy gathering from the same installation panel. Alternatively thesolar material may be non-silicon film or standard silicon panelizedstructure. Wiring on the installation sheets may be dual in nature withsolar energy going into specific batteries and wind energy into its ownbatteries or the energy may be put into the same batteries. Solar energymay also be used to power the wind turbines, thus creating only windenergy that is being used to charge the battery or battery array.

FIG. 27 illustrates an overhead view of a vehicle installed with thesolar and wind integrated panels (Item 115). These panels mayincorporate both solar and wind gathering systems in a singleinstallation sheet or separately with wind alone installation sheets andsolar alone installation sheets functioning and simultaneously deployedon a vehicle (Item 1000) participating in the system. The compositeillustration of the installation sheet once again demonstrates tinyhelix designed turbines, too small to be legibly seen without compositeform drawing deployed on the vehicle with attendant solar gatheringmaterials incorporated within the surface of the same installationsheets. Energy gathered by the sheets is transferred to the batteryarray (Item 111).

FIG. 28 illustrates an overhead view vehicles deployed with solar andwind installation sheets (Item 115) moving in and out of service centerareas (Item 1001) for the installation, registration, updating andmaintenance of the solar and wind energy generating devices. Systeminstallation sheets are displayed deployed on vehicles and compositediagrams give a feel for the large amount of tiny wind turbines that canbe deployed on a single vehicle installation sheet. As charged batteries(Item 111) are collected at the service center (Item 1001) power isdistributed using inverters and meters to store, condition, transmit andtrack power distributed from the system for direct use in vehicles (Item82), for use in the utility grid (Item 81), for use in 3rd partyvehicles (Item 82), which may pick up charged batteries as they passthrough the service center, for direct powering of homes and businesses(Item 8) and for storage as reserve battery power or utilizing thebattery energy to conduct the electrolysis of hydrogen for use inhydrogen powered systems as well as for storage of reserve energy (Item84).

FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart that combines the flow of energygenerated by both wind (Item 1090) and solar installation sheets (Item1095) into the portable vehicle system (Item 1092), or solar energy maybe used to power the wind energy installation and create a uniform, windenergy only, power source flowing into the battery or battery array(Item 1093). The vehicle is deployed (Item 1092), registered within thesystem with the installation sheets installed and activated to captureand store energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is then gathered inthe batteries and stored as electricity. The batteries then feed theinstant vehicle with power that is metered or the batteries areexchanged at a service center (Item 1094) and the power gathered in thebatteries is distributed (Item 8) to be used feed power into the grid(Item 81) after being sent through an inverter which brings the powerinto the proper technical condition for the grid according tospecifications provided by the grid operator, or to power anothervehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to havethe energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries or via amanufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra battery power tofuel the electrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may be storedcompressed and utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back toelectricity using hydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to thirdparties at times when peak energy needs create premium pricing demand(Item 84).

FIG. 30 illustrates an integration of the fixed & portable roadwayintegrated wind and solar energy gathering roadway system. Ground andvehicle-based wind energy generating devices of different type alongwith ground and vehicle-based solar energy generating devices ofdifferent type are shown schematically (e.g., solar thin film formed onwind turbine generators of different size (Item 107), photovoltaic painton roadway lines (Item 105), solar thin film formed onto roadside andmedian guardrails (Item 106), photovoltaic paint on vehicles (Item 114),solar/wind turbine generator panels/installation sheets on vehicles(Item 109), solar panels with small/micro wind turbines on roadwaymedian and edge of breakdown lane (Item 108). Power gathered thesevarious energy generating devices is transferred ground and vehiclebased energy storage systems, for example, ground and vehicle-basedbatteries and battery arrays (Items 33 and 111) for storing. Thebatteries then feed the system with power that is metered (Item 35) orthe batteries are exchanged at a service center (Item 1001) and thepower gathered n the batteries (Item 111) is used feed power, either ata service center (Item 1001) or along a convenient roadway location intoa utility grid (Item 81) after being sent through an inverter (Item 35)which brings the power into the proper technical condition for the gridaccording to specifications provided by the grid operator, or to poweranother vehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) orto have the energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries orvia a manufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra batterypower to fuel the electrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may bestored compressed and utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back toelectricity using hydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to thirdparties at times when peak energy needs create premium pricing demand(Item 84). This integrated 4 pronged approach creates a comprehensiveclean energy power gathering system that may be deployed throughoutentire roadway and highway systems converting the massive availablespace and energy available to conversion into a stable clean energysource with efficient geographical infrastructure for distribution.

FIGS. 31 to 33 illustrate the implementation of the system across theentirety of a major roadway, herein being the Massachusetts Turnpike. Ineach of these Figures, a service area is shown as dot (Item 1001).Battery arrays which although represented in the Figure in a contiguousmanner due to spacing issues are actually (i.e., in the roadway system)spaced apart in implementation and arc represented as solid black areas(Item 33). Roadway fixed solar and wind systems, in which thetechnologies may be utilized within the same implementation sheet, panelor turbine or utilized as separate technologies with wind turbinegenerators shown as dash-dotted areas (Item 16) and solar arrays shownas dotted areas (Item 100) and roadway lanes shown as dashed areas.FIGS. 31 and 32 show the first about 90 miles of the MassachusettsTurnpike. FIG. 33 represents the distribution of gathered power fedthrough the inverters and registered in meters to the various enddistribution points including direct powering of businesses (Item 83),powering being sold back to the grid system (Item 80), power beingutilized by vehicles (Item 82) or stored as excess generated energy inthe form of auxiliary battery arrays or via the conversion to hydrogenby electrolysis and the subsequent storage of compressed hydrogen intanks to be sold back to the utility at times of peak need or value(Item 84). Vehicles outfitted with portable solar and wind gatheringsystems contemplated by this system would travel along this roadway andutilize the service areas and toll booths to install, maintain and insome cases receive credit for energy gathered by the system installedupon the vehicle (Item 1000).

FIG. 32 illustrates the flow chart of a full integration of the wind andsolar energy gathering roadway system. This flow chart features bothsolar and wind gathering fixed and portable systems (Items 100, 16, 1095and 1090) integrated into the flow chart with the portable vehiclesystem flow of energy generated by both wind and solar installationsheets into the portable vehicle system, or solar energy may be used topower the wind energy installation and create a uniform, wind energyonly, power source flowing into the battery or battery array (Items 34and 1093). The one or more vehicles are deployed (Item 1092), registeredwithin the system with the installation sheets installed and activatedto capture and store energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is thengathered in the batteries and stored as electricity. The batteries thenfeed the instant vehicle with power that is metered or the batteries(Item 1093) are exchanged at a service center (Item 1094) and the powergathered in the batteries is used to feed power into the grid afterbeing sent through an inverter which brings the power into the propertechnical condition for the grid (Item 81) according to specificationsprovided by the grid operator, or to power another vehicle (Item 9),direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to have the energy storedin a reserve power form such as batteries or via a manufacture andstorage of hydrogen by using the extra battery power to fuel theelectrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may be stored compressedand utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back to electricity usinghydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to third parties at timeswhen peak energy needs create premium pricing demand (Item 84). Thefixed wind and solar roadway systems illustrates a flow chart where bothwind and solar energy gathering devices as described in FIG. 14/15transfer their energy to batteries (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34)then registering the amount of energy via the meters (Item 35) beforebeing distributed to the utility grid (Item 81), vehicles (Item 82),direct distribution of homes (Item 83) and businesses or utilized asstored energy via large battery arrays or via conversion to hydrogen tobe held in compressed tanks via the creation of hydrogen viaelectrolysis (Item 84).

FIG. 34 illustrates a flow chart relating to a further embodiment of theinvention in which the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 16 and FIG. 29are combined.

FIG. 35 is a schematic representation of a nanowire wind energygenerating device (Item 2005). Several nanowires (Items 2000) areattached to the surface (Item 2010) of a rigid or flexible sheet (Item2001) that can be conductive but is not limited to be conductive. Thenanowires are electrically connected via electrical connections (Items2002) to a circuitry (Item 2004) which gathers electrical energygenerated by the nanowires and allows flow of electrical current out ofthe device (Item 2003).

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A roadway system for energy generation and distribution, comprising;a plurality of ground-based wind energy generating devices; one or moreroads; and a roadway system electricity grid; wherein at least about 90%of the ground-based wind energy generating devices are equal to or lessthan about 25 feet in height and each of substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected tothe roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of theroads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energygeneration from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energygeneration from atmospheric wind.
 2. The roadway system of claim 1,wherein each of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesoptionally comprises one or more turbines.
 3. The roadway system ofclaim 2, wherein each of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesoptionally comprises a generator to allow conversion of rotationalenergy of the one or more turbines of the ground-based wind energygenerating device to electrical energy.
 4. The roadway system of claim2, wherein one or more of the ground-based wind energy generatingdevices have a common generator to allow conversion of rotational energyof the turbines of the one or more ground-based wind energy generatingdevices to electrical energy.
 5. The roadway system of claim 1, whereinat least about 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devicesare equal to or less than about 10 feet in height.
 6. The roadway systemof claim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices are equal to or less than about 1 inch long in anydirection.
 7. The roadway system of claim 6, wherein each of theground-based wind energy generating devices optionally comprises one ormore axial turbines.
 8. The roadway system of claim 7, wherein for agiven ground-based wind energy generating device the one or more axialturbines are each, optionally, helical turbines.
 9. The roadway systemof claim 6, wherein each of the ground-based wind energy generatingdevices with a length in any direction of equal to or less than about 1inch was manufactured using one or more microfabrication methods. 10.The roadway system of claim 6, wherein each of the at least about 90% ofthe ground-based wind energy generating devices with heights equal to orless than about 1 inch are part of one or more ground-based wind energygenerating sheets.
 11. The roadway system of claim 10, wherein theground-based wind energy generating sheets comprise between about 100and about 1 million ground-based wind energy generating devices persquare meter of sheet area.
 12. The roadway system of claim 11, whereineach of the ground-based wind energy generating devices on a givenground-based wind energy generating sheet is electrically connected toallow electrical energy generated by the ground-based wind energygenerating devices to be lathered and input into the roadway electricitygrid.
 13. The roadway system of claim 11, wherein each of theground-based wind energy generating sheets optionally comprises one ormore heating means to allow heating of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices on the sheet.
 14. The roadway system of claim 13,wherein the ground-based wind energy generating devices on a sheet areelectrically connected to the one or more heating means on the sheet toallow powering of the heating means with energy generated by theground-based wind energy generating devices on the sheet.
 15. Theroadway system of claim 11, wherein each of the ground-based wind energygenerating sheets optionally comprises filtering means positioned andsized to prevent dirt particles in the wind from reaching the windenergy generating devices on the sheet.
 16. The roadway system of claim11, wherein each of the ground-based wind energy generating sheetsoptionally comprises filtering means positioned and sized to preventdirt particles in the wind with a size larger than about one hundredthof the smallest wind energy generating device on the sheet from reachingthe wind energy generating devices on the sheet.
 17. The roadway systemof claim 10, wherein the ground-based wind energy generating sheetscomprise ground-based wind energy generating devices positioned in astratum configuration.
 18. The roadway system of claim 10, wherein eachof substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating sheets,independently, is positioned on part of one of the roads or withinbetween about 0 feet and about 10 feet from one or more of the roads.19. The roadway system of claim 10, wherein each of substantially all ofthe ground-based wind energy generating sheets, independently, isattached to a median guardrail, breakdown lane guardrail, road sign,road light. tunnel wall, advertisement board, building wall, or noisebarrier wall.
 20. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein each ofsubstantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices,independently, is positioned on part of one of the roads or withinbetween about 0 feet and about 40 feet from one or more of the roads.21. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein each of substantially all ofthe ground-based wind energy generating devices, independently, ispositioned on part of one of the roads or within between about 0 feetand about 25 feet from one or more of the roads.
 22. The roadway systemof claim 1, wherein each of substantially all of the ground-based windenergy generating devices, independently, is positioned on part of oneof the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 10 feet from oneor more of the roads.
 23. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein each ofat least 90% of the ground-based wind energy generating devices ispositioned on part of one of the roads or within between about 0 feetand about 25 feet from one or more of the roads.
 24. The roadway systemof claim 1, wherein each of at least 90% of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices is positioned on part of one of the roads or withinbetween about 0 feet and about 10 feet from one or more of the roads.25. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein the one or more roads, eachindependently, comprise one or more medians, and at least one of theground-based wind energy generating devices is positioned on at leastone of the medians.
 26. The roadway system of claim 13, wherein betweenabout 0% and about 100% (by number) of the plurality of ground-basedwind energy generating devices are positioned on at least one of themedians.
 27. The roadway system of claim 14, wherein between about 20%and about 80% (by number) of the plurality of ground-based wind energygenerating devices are positioned on at least one of the medians. 28.The roadway system of claim 1, wherein substantially all of theground-based wind energy generating devices are positioned in a stratumconfiguration.
 29. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein each ofsubstantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices,optionally, is positioned in a location selected from the groupconsisting of median and breakdown lane.
 30. The roadway system of claim1, wherein each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices, independently, is attached to a median guardrail,breakdown lane guardrail, road sign, road light, tunnel wall,advertisement board, building wall, or noise barrier wall. 31 . Theroadway system of claim 1, further being characterized by an averagedistance between any two closest ground-based wind energy generatingdevices in the range between about 5 micrometer and about 200 meters.32. The roadway system of claim 1, further being characterized by anaverage distance between any two closest ground-based wind energygenerating devices in the range between about 5 feet to about 40 feet.33. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein the ground-based wind energygenerating devices are positioned along the roads with an averagedensity of at least about 10 devices per mile of road.
 34. The roadwaysystem of claim 1, wherein the ground-based wind energy generatingdevices are positioned along the roads with an average density ofbetween about 10 and about one billion devices per mile of road.
 35. Theroadway system of claim 1, wherein each of at least about 90% of theground-based wind energy generating devices, independently, comprises avertical axis turbine.
 36. The roadway system of claim 34, wherein thevertical axis turbine is a helix-style turbine.
 37. The roadway systemof claim 1, wherein each of the one or more roads is of any type ofhighway, turnpike, pike, toll road, state highway, freeway, clearway,expressway, park way, causeway, throughway, interstate, speedway,autobahn, superhighway, street, roadway, railroad, train track car racetack or airplane runway.
 38. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein eachof the one or more roads is of any type of highway, turnpike, pike, tollroad, state highway, freeway, clearway, expressway, parkway, causeway,throughway, interstate, speedway, autobahn, superhighway, street, orroadway.
 39. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein the roadway systemelectricity grid further comprises means for storing energy generated bythe roadway system.
 40. The roadway system of claim 1, wherein theroadway system electricity grid further comprises means for invertingenergy generated by the roadway system.
 41. The roadway system of claim1, wherein the roadway system electricity grid further comprises one ormore single power source changing units.
 42. The roadway system of claim1, further comprising means for metering electricity.
 43. The roadwaysystem of claim 1, wherein the roadway system electricity grid furthercomprises one or more backup power systems.
 44. A method for generatingand distributing energy, comprising: generating energy from wind createdfrom passing vehicles using a plurality of ground-based wind energygeneration devices, wherein at least about 90% of the ground-based windenergy generating devices are equal to or less than about 25 feet inheight and each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices is electrically connected to a roadway systemelectricity grid and positioned on part of a road or near to one or moreroads.
 45. The method of claim 43, further comprising storing the energygenerated by the plurality of ground-based wind energy generatingdevices in one or more ground-based energy storage systems.
 46. Themethod of claim 44, further comprising inverting energy stored in theone or more ground-based energy storage systems.
 47. The method of claim44, further comprising distributing energy stored in the one or moreground-based energy storage systems to one or more service stations, andrefilling one or more substantially empty vehicle-based energy storagesystems at the one or more service stations.
 48. The method of claim 46,further comprising exchanging one or more substantially emptyvehicle-based energy storage systems of a vehicle with vehicle-basedenergy storage systems that have been refilled at a given servicestation.
 49. The method of claim 44, further comprising distributingenergy contained in one or more vehicle-based energy storage systemsand/or energy contained in one or more ground-based energy storagesystems to any or a combination of one or more utility grids, one ormore vehicle-based energy storage systems, one or more ground-basedenergy storage systems, one or more direct power loads, or a hydrogenfacility.
 50. The method of claim 48, further comprising using energythat was distributed to the hydrogen facility to form hydrogen; storingthe hydrogen; releasing energy from stored hydrogen; and distributingthe released energy to any or a combination of one or more utilitygrids, one or more vehicle-based energy storage systems, one or moreground-based energy storage systems, one or more direct power loads, ora hydrogen facility.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein the releasedenergy is distributed to one or more utility grids at peak electricitydemand times.
 52. The method of claim 44, further comprising registeringvehicles at a service station or service area for tracking and billingpurposes.
 53. The method of claim 44, further comprising metering energygenerated by the ground-based wind energy generating devices.
 54. Themethod of claim 44, further comprising heating the ground-based windenergy generating devices.
 55. A wind energy generating devicecomprising one or more piezoelectric nanowires and a sheet withcircuitry, wherein the nanowires are attached, independently, with oneend to the sheet, positioned on the sheet in a substantiallyperpendicular position in the absence of wind, flexible to allowmechanical bending to a bent position in response to wind acting onthem, and electrically connected to the circuitry to allow transfer ofelectrical energy generated by the one or more nanowires upon returningfrom the bent position to the substantially perpendicular position.